Freight Dictionary

Deadhead: Deadhead miles are the distances covered by a driver while the vehicle is empty and without a load, typically when returning from a delivery.

Deckable freight refers to cargo that, while not in direct physical contact with each other, is strategically placed on moveable shelves or decks within a transportation unit.

This method optimizes vertical space, allowing for efficient loading and transportation of goods that require separation to prevent damage or contamination.

Moveable shelves can adjust to accommodate different sizes and shapes of cargo, providing flexibility and maximizing space usage.

This system enhances load stability, improves safety, and reduces damage risk, leading to quicker loading/unloading, operational efficiency, and cost savings.

Declared value is what a shipper claims their shipment is worth to the freight carrier.

It sets the amount for which your goods are insured during transport.

It tells the carrier, “This is my item’s value.”

Declared value plays a crucial role in shipping and logistics — boosting the standard liability limits carriers usually have.

If your package gets lost or damaged, the declared value determines how much you can claim from the carrier.

Declared Value ensures your goods have protection tailored to their worth.

Department of Transportation (D.O.T.): The Department of Transportation (DOT) for the United States regulates rules and standards pertaining to the transportation industry.

In logistics, “dims” is a common abbreviation for “dimensions.” When referring to “dims” in the context of logistics and shipping, it typically means the measurements of a package or cargo, specifically its length, width, and height. These dimensions are crucial in calculating the size and volume of shipments, which in turn helps determine shipping costs, storage space requirements, and how efficiently items can be packed and transported.

Dispatching: Dispatching involves the scheduling and control of truck pick-ups and deliveries, crucially relying on communication channels like phone, radio, or satellite to coordinate with drivers effectively.

A distribution center is key to supply chains.

They receive, store, and send products to customers or stores.

These places connect manufacturers with users, ensuring fast movement of goods from where they’re made to where they need to go.

This cuts storage costs and makes delivery more efficient.

Door to Door: Door-to-door shipping refers to the seamless movement of cargo directly from a customer’s front door (dock) to the receiver’s front door (dock), commonly known as drayage.

Double Blind Shipment: A double blind shipment is characterized by both the pickup and delivery locations being concealed from both the shipper and consignee, ensuring a high level of confidentiality.

Double Drop Deck: A double drop deck trailer is a type of flatbed with two lowered sections, typically found at the front and rear, allowing for the transportation of oversized or overweight items.

Doubles: Doubles consist of a tractor unit towing two semi-trailers connected in tandem by a converter dolly, effectively increasing the freight-carrying capacity.

Drayage is a vital part of moving goods.

It’s a short trip for cargo from one transport hub to another nearby.

This might be from a port to a rail yard or from one truck stop to another.

Short trips are vital because they connect more extended parts of shipping routes, like ocean travel and ground transport.

This service has significant benefits for businesses shipping goods over large distances.

It ensures items get where they need to go on time and at lower costs.

Plus, as more products are made and shipped around the U.S., drayage helps keep everything moving smoothly.

Without drayage, switching between ships, trains, trucks, and planes, which move cargo across counties or continents, would be difficult.

Draymen: Draymen are individuals hired to pick up or drop off containers or trailers at intermodal terminals, playing a critical role in the transportation chain.

Drive Axle: A drive axle is an axle directly powered by the engine, typically supporting the weight of the vehicle and cargo, adhering to legal weight limits.

Driver Assist: Driver assist refers to situations where draymen or drivers are required to actively participate in the loading and unloading of containers or trailers.

A drop trailer is a truck trailer that a driver leaves at a shipper’s location so it can be loaded or unloaded when it’s convenient for the receiver.

Later, either the same driver or a different one returns to collect the trailer at a scheduled time.

A drop deck flatbed is an open semi-trailer with two levels but no roof, sides, or doors.

It starts at the height of a regular flatbed near the front, where it attaches to the tractor, and then the back part is lower, providing two different heights.

A dry van is a fully enclosed trailer to protect cargo from the elements and road debris.

These trailers attach to semi-trucks, making them highly versatile for transporting long-distance, non-perishable goods.

Often used for moving large quantities of products, they are key players in the freight industry due to their ability to haul a wide variety of cargo – from boxed goods to machinery and automotive parts.

This simplicity makes dry vans popular among businesses looking for reliable transportation services without needing specialized conditions like refrigeration or open-air transport options.

They excel in delivering everything from raw materials and household items to construction equipment safely to their destination.

Dunnage: Dunnage refers to pieces of lumber or material strategically placed around freight to prevent movement and damage during transportation.